Junior chair lift



Nov. 2, 1965 A. c. STEIN 3,215,382

JUNIOR CHAIR LIFT Filed May 5, 1965 IN VENTOR. ANTI/0N) C. 6'76! W LMM United States Patent 3,215,382 JUNIOR CHAIR LIFT Anthony C. Stein, 16841 Des Moines Way 5., Seattle, Wash. Filed May 5, 1965, Ser. No. 453,898 6 Claims. (Cl. 248--172) The present invention relates to an apparatus for elevating a conventional dining chair to a height whereat it can be used as a youth chair.

As is commonly known, a youth chair is a dining chair used by a child after he has out-grown a highchair, but before he is big enough to eat at a dining table on a conventional dining chair. The seat of a conventional dining chair is about seventeen and one-half inches above the floor, whereas the seat of a conventional youth chair is about twenty-two inches above the floor.

Some persons, such as many grandparents, for example, have only an occasional need for a youth chair. Small children are not in their homes at all times, and they only have a need for a youth chair when such a child visits the home. It would be impractical for these persons to acquire a youth chair, because of its infrequent need. A youth chair has no use as a general utility chair, and therefore would probably not be used during the periods between visits of the children. During these periods, the chair would most likely have to be stored someplace out of the way.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple and easy-to-store apparatus for elevating a conventional dining room chair a sufficient distance to enable it to be used as a youth chair during times when a youth chair is needed. At other times the apparatus can be easily stored in some small, out of the way place, such as the corner of a closet, or on a closet shelf, and the chair with which it was used can be used by adults, either as a dining chair or as a general purpose chair.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a chair elevating apparatus that is fully adjustable so that it can be adapted to fit substantially all sizes of dining chairs. Owing to design differences for aesthetic or other reasons, all dining chairs do not have the same leg spread (i.e. distance between the legs where they touch the floor). And, it is quite common for the front pair of legs of a dining chair to be spread farther apart than the rear pair of legs of such chair. The chair elevating apparatus of the present invention is especially constructed so as to be adaptable to essentially all dining chairs, regardless of the particular spread or arrangement of the legs thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a dining chair elevating apparatus that is characterized by four short legs of its own, whereby in use the four legs of the dining chair rest directly on such short legs, and the weight of the user is transmitted directly from the legs of the dining chair to the legs of the elevating apparatus, and from there to the floor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dining chair elevating apparatus of the above-described character which is simple in construction, is economically manufactured, and is durable and efiicient in use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a chair elevating apparatus capable of being collapsed to a small, compact package, for easy storage when not needed.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims, and annexed drawing.

3,215,382 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical dining chair elevating apparatus constructed according to the present invention, such view showing the characteristic features of such apparatus, and the relative relationship of its several parts, each to the others;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, while same is in a collapsed condition;

FIG. 3 is also a top plan view of the same apparatus, but showing it adjusted so as to fit a dining chair having a front leg spacing that is greater than its rear leg spacing;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of a corner portion of a modified embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational, somewhat diagrammatical view of a dining chair elevating apparatus according to the invention while in use.

Referring more specifically to the various figures of the drawings, in FIGS. 1-3 a dining chair elevating apparatus 10 typifying the present invention is shown by such figures to comprise a set of four quadrangularly arranged legs 12, interconnected by four adjustable side members 14, 16. Gliders (not shown) may be provided on the bottoms of the posts 12. The side members 14 may comprise a juxtaposed pair of longitudinally slotted sections 18, 20, the slots of which are in registry with each other. A pair of clamping bolts 22, provided with wing nuts or the like, extend through the laterally aligned slots and are used for the sections 18, 20 together.

Each of the sections 18, 20 is rigidly secured at one of its ends to the post 12 with which it is associated, and is free at its other end. At least in the corner regions of the apparatus, in the vicinity of the posts -12, the elements 18, 20 extend upwardly somewhat a distance above the upper surfaces of the post 12, for reasons to be hereinafter explained.

Side members 16 each also comprise a juxtaposed pair of longitudinally slotted sections 24, 26, with the slot of each in lateral alignment with the slot of the other, and with such sections 24, 26 being clamped together by a pair of bolts 22.

The side of each post 12 that is generally aligned with a side member 16 is provided with a relatively short wall section 28. Wall sections 28 extend up above the upper surfaces of the posts 12 the same amount as the sections 18, 20, and they each come together to form a corner with either a section 18 or a section 20.

Each member '16 is connected to the pair of posts 12 between which it extends by hinge means 30. As illustrated, the hinge means 30 directly connect the outer ends of the sections 24, 26, to the inner end of the adjacent wall section 28. Each hinge means 30 has a vertically extending hinge axis. This arrangement permits free pivotal movement in the horizontal direction (when the bolts 22 are not tightened), but makes a rigid connection vertically.

As may be evident by now, the provision of the hinge means 30 make it possible to adapt the chair elevating apparatus to a chair that has one pair of its legs (designated CL in FIG. 3) spaced apart a greater distance than the opposite pair of legs (designated CL).

The intersecting corner portions of sections 18, 28 and 20, 28, and extending above the upper surfaces of the posts 12, form, together with the upper surfaces of the posts 10, what may be referred to as a nook area to receive the lower end portion of a chair leg CL or CL. The upstanding side walls of these nooks form a means for retaining the chair legs CL, CL on the short legs 12.

As will be evident, the apparatus is adapted to the particular dining chair C with which it is to be used in the (following manner: All bolts 22 are loosened; the four corner posts 12 are pulled apart or pushed together until their tops are spread apart about the same distance as the feet of the chair legs; and then the bolts 22 are tightened, and the chair C is set in place on the posts 12.

Although the members 14, 16, 28 are shown to be of equal and uniform depth, it is to be understood that such members could be made in a manner such that they extend above the upper surfaces of the posts 12 only in the regions of the posts 12, i.e. at the corners of the apparatus. In their extent between the posts 12, the member 14, 16 could be of a lesser height than is illustrated.

The chair elevating device of FIGS. l-3 may also be provided with a means in the vicinity of each hinge means 30, for preventing further pivotal movement after the apparatus 10 is adjusted to a given chair C. In FIGS.

l-3 such means are shown to comprise a longitudinally slotted block 32 in juxtaposition with the post end portion of each member 24, 26, on the inside thereof, and connected thereto by a bolt 34. After the members 14, 16 are adjusted in length to fit the particular chair with which the apparatus is to be employed, and the nuts on the bolts 22 are tightened, the nuts on bolts 34 are loosened, the blocks 32 are moved into abutting engagement with the posts 12, and the nuts on bolts 34 are tightened. The blocks 32 then serve to prevent inward horizontal pivotal movement of a member 14 toward the posts 10, i.e. to make the once pivotal connection rigid.

By way of typical and therefore non-limitive example, the corner posts or short legs 12 may be approximately two inches (2") across and about four and one-half inches (4%) high. The side members 14 may be made of a suflicient size to enable them to be opened up to about twenty-four inches (24"), and to be collapsed to about sixteen inches (16"). In the corner regions, the sections 18, 20, 28 should extend about one inch (1") above the upper surfaces of the corner posts 12, in order to hold the chair securely.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary portion of a modified embodiment of the invention, designated 10. Generally speak ing its components are arranged and cooperate in the same manner as the components of the just described embodiment, but the materials used and the constructional details are different. The legs 12 are tubular and may be constructed from aluminum, mild steel, plastic, etc. Each leg 12 is provided with a cap 36 at its upper end, and a rubber or plastic tip 38 at its lower end. The members 14, 16 may be constructed from telescopic sections of metal tubing, such as a structural aluminum alloy, for example. As illustrated, the outer section of each arm 14', 16' may be longitudinally slotted, and the inner section provided with a wing nut equipped clamping bolt assembly 40, for clamping the sections together.

In the region of the posts 12', the tubing members may come together to form the nook for the chair legs CL, CL, as in the earlier described embodiments. The hinge means in this form of the apparatus may comprise a pair of lapped fittings 42, 44 having contacting faces provided with complementary serrations, and held together by a vertically extending bolt 46. As is evident from FIG. 4, the nut provided on bolt 40 may be loosened a sufficient amount to allow the serrations to be moved out of engagement, with each other, so that the arm 16 may be swung horizontally about the axis of the bolt 46. At such time that the spread of the legs 12.is made to correspond with the spread of the legs CL, CL of the chair C, the four nuts on the bolts 46 are tightened.

It can be seen from the drawing, and the foregoing description of the two embodiments illustrated thereby, that the weight of the user is transmitted directly from the chair legs CL, CL to the short legs 12 or 12 of the apparatus 10', and from there to the floor. Owing to this arrangement, the side members 14, 16, or 14', 16, are essentially non-stressed and can be of relatively light construction.

By way of typical and therefore non-limitive example, in FIG. 5 the height h, representing the height of the short legs 12, 12, is about four and one-half inches (4%"); the height h, representing the seat-to-floor dimension of chair C, is about seventeen and one-half inches (17%"); and the total height 1, substantially equal to the seat-to-floor dimension of a conventional youth chair, is about twenty-two inches (22").

When it is not needed, the chair elevating apparatus 10, 10' of the present invention can be collapsed down to its minimum size, as shown by FIG. 2, for example, and then put into the corner or on the upper shelf of a closet, or in some other relatively small space, for storage until it is again needed.

The essential elements of the chair elevating apparatus of the present invention are the four corner posts, the four adjustable length members which interconnect the four posts to form a quadrangular figure, and the hinge connections at the ends of at least one opposed pair of such members, connecting them to the posts between which they respectively extend. The stabilizing means (32, or 42, 46) are optional. The structural rigidity of the four legs CL, CL of the chair C will by itself stabilize the apparatus 10, 10, when the chair C is placed thereon. The wall means situated on the outside of each chair leg CL, CL will prevent lateral outward movement of the leg CL, CL off from the upper surface of its post 12. The wall means on the opposite side of the apparatus 10, 10, acting through the rigidity of the chair C, will prevent inward lateral movement of each such leg CL, CL Off of its post 12.

From the foregoing, further variations, modifications, adaptations and usages of chair elevating apparatus according to the present invention will be apparent, within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for elevating a conventional dining chair to a height whereat it can be used as a youth chair, said apparatus comprising four, quadrangularly spaced, elongated, vertical posts, each having an upper surface for supporting a leg of a conventional dining chair; Wall means extending up above the upper surface of each post, on both sides of the outside corners thereof, for retaining a chair leg on the post; side arm means, adjustable as to length, interconnecting between the said side wall means of each adjoining pair of posts, at substantially the same level around the apparatus, so as to form a closed quadrangular figure, with the major portion of each post being disposed below the level of said arm means, and with an opposed pair of the arm means each including hinge means at each of its ends rigidly connecting it with the posts between which it extends, in the vertical direction, but permitting free pivotal movement in the horizontal direction.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arm means each comprises a pair of tubular sections, one of which is telescopically received in the other, and clamp means for securing the two sections together, and wherein each hinge means comprises a pair of complementary hinge members having vertically lapped, vertically apertured portions, and a vertical pivot pin member extending through said apertures, with one of said hinge members being located at an end of the arm means of which it is a part, and the other being secured to an end portion of the upstanding wall means of the post to which the hinge means is related.

3. An apparatusfor elevating a conventional dining chair to a height whereat it can be used as a youth chair, said apparatus comprising four, quadrangularly spaced posts, each having an upper surface for supporting a leg of a Conventional dining chair; wall means extending up above the upper surface of each post, on both sides of the outside corner thereof, for retaining a chair leg on the post; side arm means, adjustable as to length interconnecting between each adjacent pair of posts, around the apparatus, so as to form a closed quadrangular figure, with an opposed pair of the arm means each including hinge means at each of its ends which rigidly connects it with the posts between which it extends, in the vertical direction, but permits free pivotal movement in the horizontal direction, and with each said arm means comprising a pair of juxtaposed, longitudinally slotted rectangular barlike members, arranged such that the slots thereof are in lateral alignment, with a pair of clamping bolts situated at longitudinally spaced locations in said slots, and having enlarged head and nut portions, respectively, which clamp against the members and hold them securely together when the nuts are tightened.

4. An apparatus for elevating a conventional dining chair to a height whereat it can be used as a youth chair, said apparatus comprising four, quadrangularly spaced posts, each having an upper surface for supporting a leg of a conventional dining chair; wall means extending up above the upper surface of each post, on both sides of the outside corner thereof, for retaining a chair leg on the post; side arm means, adjustable as to length, interconnecting between each adjacent pair of posts, around the apparatus, so as to form a closed quadrangular figure, with an opposed pair of the arm means each including hinge means at each of its ends which rigidly connects it with the posts between which it extends, in the vertical direction, but permits free pivotal movement in the horizontal direction, and longitudinally adjustable stabilizer means connected to each end of each side arm means that is pivotal-1y connected to the posts between which it extends, such stabilizer means being movable into abutting engagement with the adjacent post, and lockable in that position.

5. An apparatus for elevating a conventional dining chair to a height whereas it can be used as a youth chair,

said apparatus comprising four, quadrangularly spaced posts, each having an upper surface for supporting a leg of a conventional dining chair; wall means extending up above the upper surface of each post, on both sides of the outside corner thereof, for retaining a chair leg on the post; side arm means, adjustable as to length, interconnecting between each adjacent pair of posts, around the apparatus, so as to form a closed quadrangular figure, with an opposed pair of the arm means each including hinge means at each of its ends which rigidly connect it with the posts between which it extends, in the vertical direction, but permits free pivotal movement in the horizontal direction, said hinge means each comprising a pair of apertured, vertical lapped hinge members, having mating surfaces, a bolt extending vertically through both apertures, and a nut threaded on the end of such bolt, so that when the nut is loosened the two members may be pivotally moved relative to each other about the axis of the bolt, and when the nut is tightened the two hinge members are clamped together.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the mating surfaces of the hinge members are provided with complementary serrations.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,029,390 6/ 12 Milewski 248-287 1,690,025 10/28 Loveridge 248-18891 1,791,328 2/31 Schmitt 248159 2,664,258 12/53 Lanier 248172 2,849,745 9/58 Madsen 15--268 3,092,362 6/63 Walsh 248291 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,060,266 3/54 France.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING A CONVENTIONAL DINING CHAIR TO A HEIGHT WHEREAT IT CAN BE USED AS A YOUTH CHAIR, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING FOUR, QUADRANGULARLY SPACED, ELONGATED, VERTICAL POSTS, EACH HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE FOR SUPPORTING A LEG OF A CONVENTIONAL DINING CHAIR; WALL MEANS EXTENDING UP ABOVE THE UPPER SURFACE OF EACH POST, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE OUTSIDE CORNERS THEREOF, FOR RETAINING A CHAIR LEG ON THE POST; SIDE ARM MEANS, ADJUSTABLE AS TO LENGTH, INTERCONNECTING BETWEEN THE SAID SIDE WALL MEANS OF EACH ADJOINING PAIR OF POSTS, AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME LEVEL AROUND THE APPARATUS, SO AS TO FORM A CLOSED QUAD- 